Practices & Philosophies
Understand the Team
- Read their Minutes Document: Familiarize yourself with the team’s history, background, achievements, personality assessments, and job descriptions.
- Acknowledge History and Culture: Recognize and respect the team’s heritage and past successes.
- Learn Before Leading: Understand the team first, build alliances, and then gradually influence and lead.
Leading Up
- Prepare and Present: Ensure the new leader is well-prepared with relevant team details.
- Honesty and Openness: Be honest about strengths and weaknesses. Encourage the team to do the same to build trust and openness.
- Balance in Leadership: Acknowledge that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, promoting a balanced and honest environment.
Building a United Team
- Establish Common Ground: Define clear purposes and shared goals to unite the team.
- Healthy Culture: Foster a healthy culture as the glue that holds the team together.
- Engage External Partners: Leverage insights from suppliers, vendors, and external partners to enhance team performance.
Empathetic Leadership
- Relate to the Team: Understand and empathize with the team members, rallying them when needed.
- Serve and Influence: Focus on serving the team and influencing rather than asserting authority.
Natural Leadership
- Earn the Team’s Trust: It is preferable to be chosen by the team rather than being announced as a leader. When the team chooses you, they become your people, and you gain genuine influence.
- Respect and Caution: If the team hasn’t fully accepted you, act with caution and respect, understanding that you are still earning their trust.
By following these practices, you can effectively lead a new team, gaining their trust and building a cohesive, high-performing unit.
